Day 43: Passau to Neuburg an der Donau Ruderclub

I wake to the realisation that tall dark trees mean the place is cold and damp in the morning. There's no sun to dry the tent.

I make the ritual two tin mugs of tea, start to pack and... Panic! I can't find Satty. I search everywhere. Pockets, on the bike, in the tank bag. Nothing. I try to think what I'll have to do if I've lost her. I continue searching near the reception where I sheltered from the rain last night. Maybe someone's handed her in. The reception is shut. I head back to the tent.  I'll have to use the phone for directions; bluetooth to the helmet. I've  got addresses written on paper. What about insurance? Should I report it missing to the police? Satty is a Garmin Zumo 660. Quite expensive when I bought it. I imagine the description I'd give at the police station. "Grey, about so tall; psychopathic. Don't believe a word she says."

I find Satty hidden under the panniers, in her black case. Black case under black panniers on a black background. I thought I'd looked everywhere. Relief.

Next problem: the phone isn't charging. I change cable. It charges. I'm on to the last of three cables I brought with me.  I'd better try and get a spare.

Once packed, I set off and warm up once I'm back in the sunshine. After twenty minutes I stop for a quick check over the bike. I've pulled in beside the river, in a free overnight place for campers. I didn't do my usual checks this morning as I wanted to get away from the damp, but I know I need to check the bike daily; things work loose. It's also been nagging at me that the bike used oil yesterday, but it normally doesn't use any at all.

I soon found the reason. Both tappet covers are loose - not even finger tight. The exhaust stud nuts are loose as well. There's oil over everything under the legshields. I give it all a wipe down with a rag. It takes just a few minutes to tighten everything up and I'm pleased that it's such an easy fix. Just in case, I'd brought one spare tappet cover with me but I don't need it this time.

I ride another forty miles along the Danube valley. I pull in to have lunch and notice oil dripping onto the tarmac from the left hand side of the engine. Damn. Something's not right. 

I take the spine rack then the legshield off to reveal the engine. It's obvious what's happened. The bolt that holds the cam chain roller in place is missing. Gone. There's just an open threaded hole into the side of the cam chain tunnel.

How has it kept going? There's been a loose roller in there...

I look in my 'spare nuts and bolts' tin. Luckily, I have a bolt that fits. It won't be perfect as there is now a threaded bolt where the roller spins. That's going to wear the roller after a while but it should get me back home. I turn it over with the plug out. It sounds fine. Nothing jams. I fire it up. It sounds perfect. No rattle.

I head back onto the road to see how it works under pressure.

I'll take it steady for a while.

After a while I have confidence in the fix. It'll be fine. I open the throttle and let the wind cool me down. 

I'm  passing large open farms. Big buildings either side. There are sudden strong smells of pig and cow.  This is the intensive farming that gives Germans their schnitzel. I promise myself not to eat schnitzel again. It's an easy promise to keep - I don't really enjoy the stuff.

I'm getting tired but there's only twenty miles to go. I speed up a little. The right hand mirror flips back with the increased force of the wind. I need to tighten that again when I stop. For now I'm too tired. I just let it flap.

Satty takes me right into Neuburg town centre and then right, down a gravel path beside the river. A hundred metres on and I'm at the rowing club with a little 'camping' sign showing where to pitch. It's perfect - right beside the river and overlooking the old buildings of the town. I put the tent up then make a  dinner of cheesy pasta on the gas stove. Comfort food for a tired biker. No sooner do I wash up when it starts raining. Flashes of lightning shatter the sky. There's a constant rumble of thunder. I take a walk along the river path to see the spectacle.  Forks of lightning flash over the bridge and light up the trees. Church bell starts tolling on the other side of the river.

I'm getting drenched so head back to the shelter of my tent and a warm sleeping bag.

It's another early start tomorrow. I need to check over the bike before a fairly long ride. It looks like I'll need the waterproofs tomorrow.